Cylinder housing means for intaglio printing machines



N. P. TOFT July 20, 1954 CYLINDER HOUSING MEANS FOR INTAGLIO PRINTINGMACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Nov. 10, 1948 HVVE NTOR MMTW AT ORNEY IN. P. TOFT 2,684,028

CYLINDER HOUSING MEANS FOR INTAGLIO PRINTING MACHINES July 20, 1954 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 10. 1948 INVEN OR ATTORNEY.

July 20, 1954 TQFT 2,684,028

CYLINDER HOUSING MEANS FOR INTAGLIO PRINTING MACHINES Filed Nov. 10.1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 R m Al N 1% m u R Q R w M 1|R\ n PN W Q ,m FQ Q IQQ EM N. P. TOFT 2,684,028

CYLINDER HOUSING MEANS FOR INTAGLIO PRINTING MACHINES July 20, 1954 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 10, 1948 INVENTUR MMT' A T RNEY Patented July20, 1954 UNITED STATE stars PTENT OFFICE CYLINDER HOUSING MEANS FORINTAGLIO PRINTING MACHINES Application November 10, 1948, Serial No.59,269

7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to intaglio printing machines adapted to employinks of a highly volatile nature to facilitate the production of printedproducts at high speeds: the invention is concerned with printingmachines the printing cyl inder of which is axially adjustable withrespect to an ink housing so as to permit of side-lay adjustment, andthe invention is concerned with sealing the spaces between the ends ofthe cylinder and the end walls of the housing by sealing members whichare in abutting engagement with the ends of the cylinder.

Now the present invention has for its main purposes to provide a simplearrangement.

This object is achieved by forming the sealing or closure members byflat plates having plane faces which are in sliding and sealing en"gagement with plane faces on the end walls of the ink-housing, and theseplates are individually spring urged in the axial direction of thecylinder to hold either their edges or flanged extensions thereof inabutting closing engagement with the end faces of the cylinder.

The invention is illustrated in the accompaying drawings in which Figure1 is a sectional elevation on the line I-I Figure 2, Figure 2 a planview, Figure 3 a section on the line III--III Figure 2, Figure 4-. asection on the line IVIV Figure 1 and Figure 5 a section on the line V-VFigure 2. Figure 6 is an end elevation Figure 7 a plan of a modifiedconstruction and Figure 8 a plan view to a smaller scale of a completehousing incorporating the construction shown in Figures 6 and '7. Figure9 is a detail perspective view.

Referring to the drawings, I indicates the printing cylinder of ,anintaglio printing machine, this cylinder having shaft ends 2 which arerotatably mounted in bearings carried by the side frames of the machine,the shaft ends being accommodated in recesses 3 in the end walls 3 of astationary ink housing having also a base 4 and side walls 5, 6, thehousing being supplied with ink to a level such that the periphery ofthe printing cylinder I passes through the ink in its rotation. Theinked periphery of the cylinder I passes below a reciprocating doctorblade I the line of reciprocation of the edge of which is indicated atA-A in Figure 2 and which removes the ink from the peripheral surface ofthe cylinder leaving ink in the etching all this being as is customaryin intaglio printing machines.

In a printing operation, it is necessary to be able to adjust thecylinder I axially or as it is commonly termed to effect side-layadjustment and for this purpose it is common to associate one 2 or othershaft end 2 with a device by the operation of which the cylinder I canbe moved axially while it is rotating, such mechanism being well knownit is not necessary for an understanding of the present invention todescribe it further.

This invention is concerned with the closing of the spaces between thecylinder I and the side and. end walls of the ink housing so that avolatile ink can be used without the danger which would arise if the inkor its vapours could escape to any substantial extent from the fountaininto the press room. The invention is especially concerned with theclosing of the spaces between the ends 8 of the cylinder I and the endwalls 3 of the housing while at the same time enabling the cylinder I tobe adjusted axially.

To effect the closing of the ends of the cylinder the arrangement shownin the drawings is employed. It is to be observed that the drawingsillustrate the arrangement at only one end of the cylinder I, a similararrangement being employed at the other end. Considering firstly thearrangement shown in Figures 1-5 the end of the cylinder is engaged by astrip HI disposed at the edge 9 of a flat sealing plate II] the fiatundersurface of which is slidable on the upper edge i2 of the end wall 3of the housing, in addition the plate is spring urged into engagementwith the cylinder end 8 by springs I3 which enable the plates toaccommodate themselves to axial sidelay adjustment movement of thecylinder I. As will be clear from Figure l, the plate II) is of suchlength and disposition as to engage the cylinder end 8 along ahorizontal chord above the axis of rotation and above the shaft end 2.

The strip I4 is of material such as felt or carbon which is well adaptedto withstand the wearing engagement with the rotating cylinder end, thestrip being readily renewable. The strip is secured by a clamp bar I4which can be shaped as seen in Figure 1 to promote the drainage of inkaway from the shaft end 2.

The plate IE] is lightly held down in sealing sliding engagement withthe plane surface I2 at the ends of the housing by a pressure pad I5formed by a cambered metal strip the shape affording a degree ofresiliency to the strips. The recess 3' for the shaft end 2 is closedbelow the plate l0 by a cover block H which is removable to enable thecylinder I to be removed from the housing. It is observed that for thepurpose of closing the ends of the housing, the removable block I! canbe regarded as part of the housing and wall 3, the upper face of eachblock being formed with a fiat surface which in effect forms 3 acontinuation of the upper edge I2 of the end wall of the housing toenable the plate It to slide on them while maintaining a closure.

The pressure pad I5 is flanged at I5 and secured by the flange to a pinI5 on the block II which is pivotally supported at I9 from the end of anarm the other end of which has a beak 2! bearing on the plane face I2 ofthe end of the housing beyond the engagement of that face by the plateII]. Between its ends the arm 2t has a hold-down bolt 22 passing throughit, the bolt passing also through a clearance slot 23 in the plate toenable the plate to slide when the cylinder side-lay adjustment is made.

In the construction shown the springs I3 urging the plates Iii intosealing co-operation with the cylinder ends 3 are of the clock spring orspiral type the springs being housed in recesses in the blocks I! andbeing adjustable by sleeves i3 access to which is afforded by slots inthe pads Each sealing plate Ill terminates (as seen from the ends of thecylinders) at the periphery of the cylinder I, i. e. the platesrepresent exact chords to the cylinder, and along the side wall of thehousing remote from the doctor blade is fitted a cover plate whichextends from the side wall 5 almost into contact with the curvedperiphery of the cylinder I and hence also almost into contact with theedges of the sealing plates It] so completing the closure at that sideof the housing. The plate 24 is carried by a plate 24' on a pivot ofwhich a part is indicated at 25 which enables the plates to be swung outto expose the interior of the housing and the plate 24 can be adjustableon the plate 24 to set it to the periphery of the cylinder.

The plate it is provided with a wing piece 26 which carries areplaceable wearing block 21 having with the wing piece an outer surface21 which is curved to the curvature of the periphcry of the cylinder Iand the end of the doctor blade I sliding as it is reciprocated alongthe peripheral surface of the cylinder i over the surfaces 2'5. Theseblocks extend almost up to the cylinder ends S.

The doctor blade I is strained or clamped between upper and lower bars29, 3d, and the bar 38 is flanged at its end at 3I. The flange 3| isslidable (in reciprocation of the doctor blade) upon a stationary endclosure block 33 which fits snugly to the surfaces 2'! of the wing 26 tocomplete therewith and with the block 33 the closing of the spaces at,the ends of the doctor blade "I. The blocks 33 can terminate short ofthe end faces of the cylinder I by an amount equal to the amount ofside-lay adjustment thereof as is indicated in Figures 2 and 5 in fulllines or they can be extended to over the end parts of the cylinder asindicated by the dotted lines 33.

The longitudinal closure (1. e. along the length of the housing) on thedoctor blade side and the end closures effected by the block 33 at eachend is achieved by fitting between those blocks a closure plate assecured to a longitudinal cover plate 35 fitted to the top of the sidewall 6 of the housing, and the doctor-blade bar at is fitted with adown-turned flange 36 which rides with a very small clearance over thisclosure plate 34. The cover plate 35 extends closely to the periphery ofthe cylinder I and so may exercise a preliminary wiping effect on theink on the surface of the cylinder and this. plate is formed withopenings 3'! to enable ink which is. removed by the action of the doctorblade I to pass back into 4 the housing. The plate 35 and with it thetwo end blocks 33 are pivotally supported by a pivot not shown to enablethe assemblage to be swung to expose the fountain.

At the present time it is the usual practice to constitute the printingsurface of the cylinder I by a thin skin which covers not only theperipheral surface of the cylinder but also wraps over the cylinder endwalls and extends down towards but not to the shaft.

The arrangement shown in Figures 1-5 is entirely satisfactory for acertain range of cylinder diameter, the edge of the flat plates II] oras shown of the strips I4 being capable of being positioned to engageover the Whole of its extent the wrapped-over part of the skin.

In the smaller range of diameter however, it might be difficult toensure this result with a straight-edge surface and in such cases thearrangement shown in Figures 6 and 7 can be used. In this case, theplates I3 are formed with flanges 39 are stiffened by ribs 38 and whichcarry an arc-shaped piece 43 of material such as felt which by reason ofthe flange construction can engage the end 8 of the cylinder I on an arcwhich extends wholly over the wrapped over part of the skin.

It is preferred to carry the flange 39 below the plane of the part Iiias is shown in Figure 6.

In order to minimise the travel of ink from the housing along the shaftends 2 of the cylinder I, each shaft end is engaged by a rectangularmetal plate GI which is pressed-out to a V-form the hollow base of the Vbeing presented to the under surface of the shaft end as is indicatedmost clearly in Figure 9 in which is indicated by the arrow, thedirection of rotation of the shaft end 2 which extends through the end 3of the housing. The leading limb 42 of the V forms the chief operativeportion of the plate and the outer edge 43 of this limb is formed at anangle to the axis of the shaft so that the edge slopes downwardly awayfrom the end wall 3.

This outer edge which is opposed to the rotation of the shaft acts as ascraper which scrapes ink from the shaft ends as it rotates and, due tothe sloping form of this edge, the ink, so scraped runs downwardly awayfrom the end wall and so back into, the fountain. It will be seen thatthe trailing limb of the plate 4| similarly acts to deflect inward andaway from the end wall, any ink that may get under it.

To provide an edge. 43. at the required angle, a rectangular plate canbe pressed-out to form a V about the centre line of the V and the platethen set with its apex 44 at an angle to the axis of the shaft. Howeveras shown it is, preferred to press out the V with its; apex at an anglefor this automatically produces the required slope at its edge 42.

The apex of the V is. rounded and fits into a groove 45 in a supportingblock 46 secured to the base wall of the housing so that the plate canrock to adapt, itself to the shaft end 3, springs 41. being provided toclip the. plate in position.

The arrangementshown in these Figuresv 6. and 7 otherwise follows theconstruction shown in Figures 1-5 the parts which correspond to oneanother having. similar reference numerals.

What I claim is:

1. In combination a housing to. contain ink, a printing cylinderrotatable in the housing and having a shaft extending through a wall ofthe housing, and a V-shaped scraper supported, in-

termediate. its end in a fixed position under the shaft to minimise thepassage of ink along the shaft towards the housing, the said scraperhaving a scraping edge which engages the surface of the shaft inopposition to the direction of rotation of the shaft and which extendswith a slope downwards away from the housing wall.

2. In a printing machine having a housing for ink, and a cylinder havinga shaft rotatable in a bearing in a wall of the housing, a scraperdevice for deflecting ink reaching the shaft away from the bearing andcomprising a rectangular plate of flexible material having ends cutsubstantialy square with its side edges, and bent at a mid portion alonga line out of parallelism with the ends, and a scraper supportpositioned in the housing under the shaft and having a slot adapt ed toreceive and hold the plate at its bent portion and press its endsagainst the shaft.

3. In an ink cylinder housing for an intaglio printing machine having ashaft rotatabiy supporting a printing cylinder and extending through thehousing, means to substantially prevent the escape of ink from thehousing, including a V- shaped scraper supported intermediate its endsin a fixed position under the said shaft to mini mize the passage of inkalong the shaft toward a wall of the housing, the said scraper having ascraping edge which engages the surface of the shaft and extendsdownwardly away from the housing wall.

4. In an ink cylinder housing for an intaglio printing machine having ashaft rotatably supporting a printing cylinder and extending through thehousing, means to substantially prevent the escape of ink from thehousing including a scraper comprising a plate bent into a V form andfixedly supported under the shaft so opposite edges of the plate arepresented to the surface of the shaft and one of said edges extends atan angle downwardly away from a housing wall.

5. An intaglio printing machine comprising in combination an ink housinghaving side walls and end walls, the upper part of each wall having agenerally horizontal plane face, a printing cylinder having a shaft andbeing rotatable and axially adjustable in the housing, and means toclose the spaces between the end surfaces of the cylinder and the endwalls, the said means including a pair of relatively small and lightweight end closure members each comprising a flat plate having anunder-side plane face for co-planar slidable engagement with the saidplane face on an end wall, the said plate extending inward toward theend of the cylinder and having a renewable wearing strip positioned tosealingly engage the adjacent end of the cylinder along a horizontalchord above the cylinder shaft, and spring means to hold the said endclosure members in engagement with the said plane faces on the end wallsand against the ends of the cylinder.

6. An intaglio printing machine comprising in combination an ink housinghaving side walls and end walls, the top of each wall having ahorizontal flat surface, a printing cylinder rotatable and axiallyadjustable in the housing, and means to close the spaces between the endsurfaces of the cylinder and the upper portion of the end walls, thesaid means including a generally horizontal plane face formed at the toof each end wall of the housing, a pair of angularly formed, relativelysmall and light weight end closure members each having an under-sideplane face in co-planar slidable engagement with the said plane face onan end wall and a vertical face having an arcuate cushioning member toengage and cooperate with a said end of the cylinder in sealingengagement therewith, and spring means to hold the said closure membersinto engagement with the plane faces on the end Walls and against theends of the cylinder.

7. An intaglio printing machine comprising a printing clinder rotatablysupported in an ink cylinder housing having side walls and end wallswith bearings permitting axial adjustment of the cylinder, each of thesaid walls having a smooth horizontal surface on its upper edge, and allin horizontal alignment in the same plane, means to close the spacesbetween the cylinder and the housing, including side closure membershaving smooth horizontal surfaces on their under side to sealinglyengage the horizontal surfaces on the upper edges of the side walls, andincluding relatively small and light weight end closure members havingsmooth horizontal surfaces on their under sides in co-planar engagementwith the horizontal surfaces on the upper edges of the housing endwalls, the said end closure members having renewable wearing members tosealingly engage the ends of the cylinder, and means to re silientlypress each end closure member against an end wall and also toward theend of the cylinder.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,469,544 Swaim Oct. 2, 1923 1,840,069 Walker et al Jan. 5,1932 2,068,839 Behringer Jan. 26, 1937 2,115,725 Koch May 3, 19382,224,217 Crofts Dec. 10, 1940 2,350,089 Behringer May 30, 19442,352,337 Meyer June 27, 1944 2,495,017 Meyer Jan. 17, 1950 2,550,454Crafts et al Apr. 24, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 532,875Great Britain Feb. 3, 1941 554,953 Germany July 16, 1932

